A Cal State LA student activist has filed a federal lawsuit after her DACA application was unfairly rejected due to her immigration activism.

Claudia Rueda, 23, was arrested in May 2017 near her home and was held in custody for about two weeks. Rueda is an immigrant rights activist who came to the U.S. as a young child, and was able to successfully get her mother released after she was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to the LA Times, Rueda’s attorneys said her complaint is the first lawsuit challenging a rejected application under DACA. CFA has been a staunch advocate of Rueda, with many faculty having made calls and written letters to #FreeClaudia, issuing a statement of support, and helping promote Rueda’s story in the news media.

CFA is committed to helping protect our students, and last spring, we successfully sponsored AB 21, legislation that enacts protections for undocumented students, faculty, and staff in the CSU system, as well as the state’s community colleges.

We commend Rueda for her bravery in standing up for not only herself, but racial and social justice for all.

“Claudia Rueda is an amazing student and human being. Her long struggle has been hard on her and her family, yet she continues to courageously fight for her rights and for the rights of others,” said Enrique Ochoa, a Cal State LA Professor of History and Latin American Studies who has taught Rueda. “Claudia is an inspiration to her classmates, faculty, and to all in the CSU who are working for social justice.”